Men’s Swim & Dive Ready to Kick Off WAC Championships

LARAMIE, Wyo. (2/24 /25) – The University of Wyoming men’s swimming and diving team is ready to kick off the 2025 WAC Championships at the University of Houston inside the CRWC Natatorium on Feb. 26 through Mar. 1. The event is set to be livestreamed on ESPN+ with live results also available.

The Cowboys competed at the WAC Championships last year with heavy hearts, after the tragic loss of three members of the Wyoming Swim and Dive program, Charlie Clark, Carson Muir and Luke Slabber, just a week earlier. The Cowboys rallied through unimaginable grief and loss to place fourth overall as well as set multiple school records and earn a handful of podium finishes.

This season the Cowboys finished 2-4 overall and 1-1 in WAC duals.

In what has proven to be a building year for the Cowboys, head coach Dave Denniston has continued to be surprised by his team and how they race in the pool.

“The men’s team this year just had a completely different approach to the season, knowing we are a little low on numbers and trying to redevelop and build up coming off of last year,” Denniston said. “They’ve exceeded my expectations, so at this point we’re just having fun, and we have some athletes that are going to do some great things. Gavin Smith is somebody that we are all watching for that 100 butterfly to see if he can get the WAC record. But also, Adam Pannell, Caleb Ozenne, those guys have all done really good work this season and we’re looking forward to seeing them having fun and racing and seeing the best that they can. I think going in and just rocking the boat a little bit and having some fun in the process is what this team is focused on.”

All eyes will be on Smith, as the 4x All-WAC honoree and senior captain returns to lead the Cowboys at this year’s WAC Championships. Smith, who lays claim to school records in the 100-yard butterfly and as a member of a few relay teams, earned multiple podium finishes at last year’s WAC Championships. He has continued to break school records throughout his career but will be seeking to add a WAC Championship title to his list of accolades as a Cowboy.

The University of Wyoming men’s swimming and diving team will look to make a splash and “rock the boat” this week in Houston, while enjoying the opportunity and striving to reach the podium as much as possible.